The Letters
"How are you feeling now?" Harry asked her as they did their homework the next day. It was the weekend and summer vacations so they were just going to hang around in their room unless someone called for them to do chores.
Hayley just shrugged, not in the mood to talk anymore. She had sobbed and engulfed him into a hug as soon as she had seen Harry in the kitchen after she was let out of the cupboard. She only let go after Vernon threatened with another night in the cupboard. Even after that, she had held Harry's hand as he made breakfast. But only for a few minutes since it grew difficult for him to cook with one hand. So he offered the insides of his pockets turned inside out. So the whole time throughout breakfast until he did the dishes, she held onto that pocket and let go only when they reached their room. They both then sat in silence, their hands held together, just being there for each other.
Now after several hours, they were sprawled on their respective beds, doing their homework. Harry groaned the third time as he buried his face in his hands.
"What?" Hayley asked, not taking her eyes away from her notebook.
"I hate homework!"
"I know."
"Why do the teachers always have to make everything so difficult?"
"So we can learn."
"I hate school!"
"I know."
"I hate Dudley!"
"Me too."
She still hadn't looked away from her notebook. But Harry had gone quiet now so she stole a glance in her brother's direction. He was looking out the window as if in deep thought. He then turned his head towards her, his green eyes swirled with an emotion she often saw in his eyes.
"Do you think we'll have friends someday?" He asked, his voice barely audible.
"Of course." A lie. She didn't believe she could make friends. Not with Dudley around. Harry scoffed, "Not with Dudley around."
A smile formed onto her lips as her brother voiced her thoughts. He looked out again, a smile forming on his face, "Maybe after he's gone, we can make some friends."
Oh yeah. He was going to this new boarding school. Smeltings? Smolthings?
Or something insignificant like that, she thought with a roll of her eyes. Even if he was gone, she doubted she'd make friends. Because she didn't know how to make friends. Everyone at school kept their distance from the twins because of Dudley. So she never had a friend. The same for Harry. But one thing she knew that wherever Harry went he'd make friends. There was something about him that pulled people in, he even befriended a snake.
A gasp escaped her mouth at that. A freaking snake!
She had forgotten all about that! She jumped to a sitting position.
"Harry!" Her brother jumped at the sudden exclamation.
"What?"
"The snake! What happened with the snake!?" She asked bewildered but soon realised her voice was loud and dropped it to a whisper. "You were... You were talking to it. How?"
He looked a bit shocked but quickly that turned to confusion as his brows furrowed, "What do you mean? I was talking to him like I normally do. You know... But then I could understand him somehow." He was silent for a moment then, "It was a bit weird right? Now that I think about it..."
She was completely caught off guard by this, "Harry! You weren't just talking. And it definitely wasn't like how you normally talk. You were making some hissing sounds and it was totally creepy, bro!"
His cheeks heated as he rubbed the back of his neck, "I-I didn't realise that. I don't know what happened. I was just doing it. I-I just... I can't explain."
Hayley stared at her brother as he looked down at his hands, trying to explain what happened. It wasn't anything new actually. Strange things kept happening around them and no one could explain how.
She let out a soft sigh, "It's alright. You don't have to explain. I also don't know what happened. You know... With the glass."
"Oh right. That glass." Harry said in way that felt like he was reminiscing a memory. Then he shrugged his shoulders tensely, "Must be some technical problems."
That was the most logical explanation. There was no other way to explain it. But still somehow she knew she caused it. She couldn't explain how or why but she felt something inside of her when she...
She shook her head to clear her thoughts and offered her twin a smile, "Yeah. It must be that."
They both knew it wasn't.
-•••-
It was a week before their 11th birthday when the letters started to arrive. First they came with the postman. Harry had received them and saw two letters, each addressed to the twins. Harry was about to hand hers over when Dudley had snatched it away and told his demon of a father.
Both Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia had gone pale in the face at seeing the envelopes. When Dudley and the twins had demanded to know what the letters were about, they were kicked out of the drawing room along with Dudley which immensely surprised them.
After that day, the atmosphere at the Dursely household was as tense as a bowstring. The next day more letters came but they weren't received by the proper recipients. For a week, Uncle Vernon had done everything in his power to stop the letters from arriving but he couldn't.
Currently, they were being ambushed by the letters as the crisp envelopes flooded in through the chimney. Vernon's roar of anger and Petunia's shrieks were echoing through the hall as the twins sprinted towards the stairs, each clutching a letter addressed to them.
She sneeked a peak at the envelope.
Ms. H. Potter
The Smallest Bedroom
4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging
Surrey
She was going to read it this time. Who was trying to talk to the twins so badly that they were going to such extreme means for them to receive the letters. She had to know.
But Alas! Life wasn't fair, was it?
They both were pulled back by the back of their shirts and Vernon ripped the envelopes out of their small fists.
"I want my letter!" Harry roared at Vernon.
"That's mine! Give it back!" Hayley growled at her Uncle, a sudden wave of anger bursting through her. Before she could process her thoughts, she kicked him in the shins and Vernon howled in pain, letting them go.
Oh no. What have I done!? She realised with horror. He'll lock me away in the cupboard again!
But Vernon just gritted his teeth at her, tearing apart the letters in his hands, and declared, "We are leaving! Everyone pack your stuff! Now!"
And before they could say or do anything, they were being shoved inside the car and drove away. Vernon muttering something like '...won't find us now. Those freaks... Sheke 'em off...' all day long.
Oh well, ladies and gentlemen, our dear Uncle has finally lost his marbles.
They stayed at a gloomy looking hotel for the night and the twins and Dudley shared a room with two beds. Dudley snored loudly as he slept but Harry had seated himself on the windowsill, looking deep in thought. She knew what he must be thinking as she also stayed awake in bed, thoughts racing with what the letters might contain. But after a while, Hayley also fell asleep.
They ate stale cornflakes and cold tinned tomatoes on toast for breakfast the next day. They had just finished when the owner of the hotel came over to their table.
"Excuse me, but is one of you Mr. H. Potter? Only I got about an hundred of these at the front desk."
She held up a letter so they could read the green ink address:
Mr. H. Potter
Room 17
Railview Hotel
Cokeworth
It was a letter addressed to Harry and he made a grab for it but Uncle Vernon knocked his hand out of the way. The woman stared at them wierdly.
"I'll take them," said Uncle Vernon, standing up quickly and following her from the dining room.
-•••-
"Wouldn't it be better just to go home, dear?" Aunt Petunia suggested timidly, hours later, but Uncle Vernon didn't seem to hear her. Exactly what he was looking for, none of them knew as he drove to multiple different places. Finally, in the late afternoon, Uncle Vernon had parked at the coast, locked them all inside the car, and disappeared. It started to rain and heavy drops started to beat on the roof of the car.
Aunt Petunia did not move so they also stayed put. They saw Vernon approach a man and pay the old man for a boat.
Hmm... Shady. She remembered watching a crime drama at Mrs. Figgs' and the criminal acted exactly how Vernon was acting.
She leaned forward, addressing her Aunt, drawing her voice into a whisper, "Don't you think Uncle Vernon is acting a bit... Crazy? What if whoever's been chasing us did something to him?"
Dudley moaned with fear, burying his face into his hands. Patunia took a sharp intake of breath, her already pale face now ghostly white. Harry choked back a laugh and she tried everything in her power not to break the seriousness that showed on her face.
They all jumped as lightning flashed, followed by thunder. In the purplish flash of light, a house stood at the far island away from the mainland. It was barely an island, it was just a large rock out in the sea. The house looked haunted. The look on Patunia's face was priceless and too precious to stop her ministrations so she continued.
She fake gasped. "A-a house! I-Is there where they are luring us?" She asked innocently.
Another roar of thunder jerked her Aunt's body into motion as she quickly got out and ran to her husband. The twins couldn't stop themselves now. They both burst out in laughter, clutching their stomachs, tears forming into their eyes. Dudely continued to whimper.
"What if you are right, Hayley?" Harry questioned, his eyes dancing with mischief as they calmed themselves down.
"Oh I am so scared," she pretended to be frightened but couldn't help and giggle.
Uncle Vernon yanked the car door open and howled at them to get a move on. They followed the Durselys onto a dingy boat that might break any second. They landed onto a small island that only had one house and nothing else.
She shuddered at the sight of the murky property. She turned towards her brother and muttered, "I shouldn't have said something like that right? Maybe I jinxed it."
"We'll be living here for the night," Vernon announced, "Come on."
-•••-
"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Harry/Hayley. Happy birthday to you."
The twins sang the birthday song to each other as they blew the candles that they had drawn on the muddy floor of the house. The sound of thunder seemed to grow louder and louder. Hayley realised it wasn't thunder but someone or something was banging on the front door.
Maybe her made-up story about the unknown thing chasing them had come true. Oh she really shouldn't have said something so horrifying.
The door banged open... No. It completely tore off its hinges! Her stomach dropped as a great shadow appeared at the doorway.
The twins quickly scrambled to their feet and ran to the opposite wall, far away from the door as possible. Hayley grabbed the poker that was laid by the fireplace and held up in her hands, ready for any attack. Harry had thrown himself in front of her on impulse, without any thought or weapon to defend himself.
She couldn't help but roll her eyes.
She focused her attention on the giant who came in through the door, saying something to Dudley as if he knew him. Then addressed him as Harry.
What?
The door had already been repaired somehow. She'd think about that later.
Then came Uncle Vernon with a gun and Aunt Petunia who trembled behind her husband. He demanded that the giant leave his property at once but the giant only laughed and actually bent the rifle with one hand, daring Vernon to try anything else.
Whoa! This man is strong! She thought astonishingly.
When the big man addressed Dudley as Harry again, her brilliant but stupid brother said, "I am Harry."
"No, Harry! Let the loan shark deal with them. We have nothing anyways!" She harshly whispered in her brother's ears.
I mean why else was he here demanding to see them. Durselys must have used their names to take out a loan. Those conniving little cockroaches!
The giant looked over at them in surprise. His lips turned into a smile as his eyes crinkled with delight. "Ah! Harry! Hayley! It's so good to see you both!" The man exclaimed with joy.
Eh?
"Blimey! You two have grown up. Look at you! You two were this big when I brought you on my motorbike."
He gestured with his hands to show them how 'big' they used to be. He placed a hand inside of his coat, looking for something and Hayley immediately tensed. But all he produced was a box which was slightly bent. He passsed it to Harry who took it, opening it.
A cake!?
"Happy birthday you two!" He rejoiced, " I might have sat on it... Sorry."
Since her presence was already exposed to the giant, she found her voice again, "Y-you! Who are you?" She demanded but then as she peered into his face she couldn't help but add, "Sir."
Just to be safe.
He settled himself on the dingy old sofa, which Dudley previously occupied, almost sagged to the floor under the man's weight. He started to take out various stuff out of his pockets and made himself a little picnic.
As he did so, he provided, "Rebeus Hagrid. Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts."
Silence filled the room, the clap of thunder echoed into the distance.
"But well of course you know all about Hogwarts, don't you?" The giant-Hagrid said as he leaned forward and lit the fireplace alight with a flick of his umbrella.
Hayley's eyes nearly popped out of her eye sockets. W-what? B-but... But how?
She exchanged a look with Harry who looked as shocked as her. He then swallowed and turned his attention to Hagrid who had started to fry some sausages on a fry pan over the fire.
"No." Her brother provided.
At that Hagrid whipped his head in their direction.
"Who are you exactly sir?" Hayley asked cautiously, "And what's Hogwarts?"
The big man looked shell shocked but then turned towards the Durselys and howled at them with anger for not informing us about anything. There was a lot of yelling and threatening and finally Hagrid turned towards them.
His expression and eyes turned soft as he addressed the twins, "You both are not some ordinary kids."
The twins exchanged another look. Hagrid turned to Harry, "You are a Wizard, Harry."
"And you, Hayley, are a Witch." He said, now looking into her eyes.
Great. Another nutjob.
But his eyes were soft, they twinkled with delight and joy. It was something she had never seen before. People never looked at her like that, never felt happy to be just talking to her. Yet here this man was, a man they had never seen before, looking at them with so much love and affection, that she almost hugged him. But she held herself back.
He eyed her carefully, "How about you leave that poker over there and come eat some sausages?"
He offered them the pan where little pieces of sausages sizzled, it sweet aroma wafting around the small room. A rumble went through her stomach and her mouth instantly watered. He offered Dudley some as well but Vernon warned him not to touch anything the man gave him.
Harry stepped forward, taking a piece and biting on it. His eyes widened with delight and he exclaimed, "Wow! It's delicious!"
She eyed her brother carefully, not trusting the man quite yet. But she took his offer and ate. Oh my god. It was divine, heavenly. She took another and another. Hagrid let out a chuckle and her cheeks went red.
"Oh! Almost forgot to give you this!" He reached inside his pocket and produced two envelopes. Their eyes widened at that and they quickly took the letters from his hand.
Harry tore the envelope as fast as he could. She did the same. After a week of not getting her hands on it, she really couldn't wait to know what was in there.
A neat and clean writing in emerald green greeted her as she roamed her eyes over the page.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF
WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc, Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards).
Dear Ms. Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
She couldn't believe her eyes! Now everything made sense. The strange occurrences around them, why the Durselys were so afraid people would find out.
This! This might be the answer to everything!